03 September, 2015

“In a
bid to show off how the US protects its allies, the Pentagon has
deployed two MQ-1 Predator long-range unmanned surveillance drones
and 70 airmen to Latvia on a training mission, the US Department of
Defense said. The deployment of the two unmanned MQ-1 Predators to
Lielvarde Air Base over the weekend was the first time the US
military sent a detachment of drones to Latvia to take part in what
is referred to as partner training, a Pentagon spokesman, Navy
Captain Jeff Davis, told Reuters. The drones will be controlled from
Lielvarde Air Base, and their mission is due to end on September 15,
according to AFP.”

“In
May, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia jointly asked for permanent NATO
bases, alleging that Russia has the capacity to invade them within
four hours of ordering an attack. Moscow lashed out at the move,
saying it contravenes the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act.”

“One of
the biggest series of drills this summer involved at least 49 vessels
from 17 countries, with 5,600 troops taking part in the US-led
BALTOPS exercises in the Baltic Sea in June. The war games took place
just miles off the Russian coastal exclave of Kaliningrad, a gulf
area sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. The Russian Foreign
Ministry has repeatedly criticized NATO’s military buildup in
neighboring states. It said they are taking place 'under the false
pretext of alleged ‘aggressive behavior’ by our country' and is
accompanied by 'unfriendly and malicious' rhetoric.”